Boy's Cinema (1935-39)

you've been here as Tong as I have, you'll find you've lost all your ideas about glory. The only decorations you're likely to get here, Tibbets, are mosquito bites." The youngster laughed, and Sanders turned to pour himself a whisky-and- soda. It was as he was on the point of drinking it that the door of the Residency was pushed open, and a man of about his own age crossed the threshold. He was Captain Hamilton, dressed like his colleagues in khaki shorts, a military tunic, and a shirt that was open at the neck. Ho was obviously suffering from the intense heal, for he was wiping his face and throat with a handkerchief as he entered the lounge. "Hallo, Hamilton!" Sanders greeted him, with a placidness that gave no in- dication of the relief he felt at seeing him. "'You're just in time to join me in a drink." "Thanks," the other said. "I need one." ile sat down, and the Commissioner handed him a whisky-and-soda. "Any news of special consequence to report?" Sanders asked him. "Yes," Hamilton answered, "I dropped in on friend Oboja, chief of the Acholi tribe. Found a couple of gin bottles in his village." Sanders and Tibbets exchanged a glance as they heard this. There were two commodities which were taboo in the territory, for obvious reasons. One was spirits, and the other firearms. "I had a long talk with Oboja," Hamilton continued. "He said that he was your brother, Commissioner. He said that you had the magic and the wisdom of all the witch doctors who ever lived, that you had ears as long as an elephant's, and eyes in the side of your head, in the back of your head, and where other men sit down." He smiled, and then added ruefully: "But he wouldn't tell me where he got the gin." " That's easy," Sanders commented. " 1 had word from one of my spies several days ago, telling me that Farini and Smith were passing through the territory. They're the culprits all right." BOY'S CINEMA There was a pause, and then Hamilton spoke again. "By the way," he mentioned, "I ran across a queer sort of fellow a few miles upstream. He was in an Ochori canoe, but I'll swear he was no Ochori. He said he wanted to see you, but wouldn't tell ine why." Sanders was listening attentively. "Was he a tall man, Hamilton?" ho inquired. "Why, yes," the other rejoined " very tall. But out of the two million i.ctiv^ in this territory, don't tell me that you can pick out the very man I'm talking about. Your ' black children ' say that you're capable of all kinds of magic, and you'll have me believing it myself pretty soon." "No, seriously, I think it's possible that I may know something about your acquaintance of the river," Sanders stated. "We'll soon see, anyhow." He summoned an orderly who was standing on the veranda outside, and told hirn to fetch the black who had arrived with Captain Hamilton. Then he invited Hamilton and Tibbets to join him in his office, where the three of them sat down. A minute or two afterwards a mag- nificent specimen of negro manhood was shown into the room. Well over six feet in height, he was splendidly propor- tioned, and Sanders was at once struck by the alertness and intelligence of his bold features. The giant native looked from one to another of the three white men, and finally his eyes became focussed on the Commissioner, as if he guessed that this was the personage he was seeking. "Who are you?" Sanders asked him. "I am Asaba, son of the old chief Sulabu, who died some moons past. I rule the Ochori in his place, lord." The answer had come glibly—too glibly. Sanders eyed the negro with a touch of reproach in his gaze. "Is that not a lie, man?" he said in a quiet voice. The black looked uncomfortable, and then hung his head with an air of defeat. "It is a lie, Lord Sandi," he mur- mured. | Every Tuesday Sanders rose from bis chair and crossed to a filing cabinet. From this he produced a document which bore .1 picture of the negro who stood before him, and underneath the photograph he read the following description, which he quoted aloud: "Bosambo. Six feet four inches in height. Wanted at Monrovia, in the Republic of Liberia. Convicted for petty larceny. Escaped from the prison of St. Thome " The black's uneasiness increased .is the Commissioner moved towards him. Then he began to talk volubly again. "Lord," ho protested, "I am living honestly now. I have made myself chief of the Ochori people, and have taught them to live in peace, according to your laws. Were not the Ochoris always troublesome to you, before I came?" "That may be so, man," Sanders re- joiced. " But no one in the territory may become chief without my sanction." Again Bosambo hung his head, and then the Commissioner addressed him once more. "Why did you come here?" he asked. "Lord Sandi," the black answered, rousing himself hopefully, "I bring a high and important) message for you." "Is that not another lie, man?" Sanders remarked. Bosambo 6hook his head. "Lord," he said, "I lie when it i* good for me to lie. But to you I will never lie again." "That will be wise," the Commis- sioner told him. "The people of the river say that Lord Sandi knows all," Bosambo went on. "They say that he has great magic. But I know that he has many spies—I, too, have my spits, now that I lead tho Ochoris—and that is why I bring you this high and important message." "One moment," Sanders said. "You knew that in a month I would come to the Ochori village—at the timo of the taxes. Is that not why you are here- in the hope of making a good impression so that I may let you remain as chief of the people who have adopted you?" " King Mafolaba," Sanders ground out, " I warn you ! If you harm one servant of the Government, be it only a carrier-pigeon, I will grind you into the dust and you shall be king no more 1 " May lit!), 1833.